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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Minutes of the ANNUAL meeting of
maidstone borough council held at the town hall, high street, maidstone on 7 June 2014
Present: |
Councillor English (The Mayor) and Councillors Black, Mrs Blackmore, Burton, Butler, Chittenden, Collins, Cox, Cuming, Daley, Ells, Fissenden, Garland, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harwood, Mrs Hinder, Hogg, Mrs Joy, McKay, McLoughlin, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Newton, Paine, Parvin, Mrs Parvin, Paterson, Perry, Pickett, Powell, Mrs Ring, Mrs Robertson, Ross, Round, Sargeant, Springett, Mrs Stockell, Thick, Vizzard, Watson, de Wiggondene, Willis, J.A. Wilson and Mrs Wilson |
1. Mr Jeremy Hindle
The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of Mr Jeremy Hindle, a former Councillor and Mayor of the Borough, who had died in April.
2. Prayers
Prayers were said by the Reverend Canon Andrew Sewell.
3. Apologies for Absence
It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ash, Edwards-Daem, Long and Sams.
4. Dispensations
There were no applications for dispensations.
5. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.
6. Disclosures of Lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
7. Election of Mayor
It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor B Mortimer, supported by Councillor Mrs Gooch and
RESOLVED: That Ian Richard Thick, a Councillor of the Borough, be duly elected Mayor of the Borough of Maidstone until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2015.
Councillor Thick then made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was duly witnessed in accordance with Section 83(3)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972.
**THE MAYOR (COUNCILLOR THICK) IN THE CHAIR**
8. Congratulations to the Mayor
The Mayor received congratulations on his election from scholars representing schools as follows:
Marlie Harding and Zara Harding |
Headcorn School
|
Kristian Samwell-Nash and Ethan Gray
|
Ulcombe School |
Ben Johnston |
Maidstone Grammar School
|
Isabelle Baker |
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
|
9. The Retiring Mayor
It was moved by Councillor Chittenden, seconded by Councillor Paine, supported by Councillor Mrs Gooch and
RESOLVED: That the hearty thanks of this Council be given to Councillor Clive English for the admirable discharge of his duties as Mayor during the past year, and for his courteous approach to all sections of the community.
10. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
11. Minutes of the Meeting of the Borough Council held on 23 April 2014
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on 23 April 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed.
12. Appointment of Deputy Mayor
It was moved by Councillor Mrs Gooch, seconded by Councillor Chittenden, supported by Councillor Collins and
RESOLVED: That Councillor Daniel Patrick Moriarty be duly appointed Deputy Mayor for the Borough of Maidstone until the Annual Meeting of the Council in 2015.
Councillor Moriarty then made the Statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office which was duly witnessed in accordance with Section 83(3)(a) of the Local Government Act 1972.
13. Mayor's Announcements
The Mayor welcomed all new Members to their first meeting of the Borough Council.
14. Election of the Leader of the Council
It was moved by Councillor Mrs Ring, seconded by Councillor Greer, that Councillor Mrs Blackmore be elected as Leader of the Council until the expiry of her term of office as a Councillor in 2015.
It was moved by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor B Mortimer, that Councillor Mrs Wilson be elected as Leader of the Council until the expiry of her term of office as a Councillor in 2015.
In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4, five Members of the Council requested that a named vote be taken. The voting was as follows:
Councillor Mrs Blackmore (25)
Councillors Black, Mrs Blackmore, Burton, Butler, Collins, Cuming, Garland, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Mrs Hinder, Hogg, McLoughlin, Munford, Paine, Parvin, Mrs Parvin, Perry, Mrs Ring, Ross, Round, Springett, Mrs Stockell, Thick, de Wiggondene and J.A.Wilson
Councillor Mrs Wilson (22)
Councillors Chittenden, Cox, Daley, English, Fissenden, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harwood, Mrs Joy, McKay, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Naghi, Newton, Paterson, Pickett, Mrs Robertson, Vizzard, Watson, Willis and Mrs Wilson
Abstained (3)
Councillors Ells, Powell and Sargeant
RESOLVED: That Councillor Mrs Blackmore be elected as Leader of the Council until the expiry of her term of office as a Councillor in 2015.
15. Appointments to the Cabinet
The Leader of the Council reported that her appointments to the Cabinet were as follows:
Community and Leisure Services |
Councillor Perry |
Corporate Services |
Councillor McLoughlin |
Economic and Commercial Development |
Councillor Greer |
Environment |
Councillor Mrs Ring |
Planning, Transport and Development |
Councillor Burton |
The Leader of the Council then reported that she had appointed Councillor Greer as her Deputy.
16. Delegation of Executive Functions
The Leader of the Council reported that the Scheme of Delegation of Executive Functions had been circulated for the Council’s information.
17. Allocation of Seats on Committees
In accordance with Sections 15 and 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council considered the allocation of seats to each Political Group in relation to its various Committees.
It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Greer:
1. That the Planning Referrals Committee comprise three Members, one from each of the largest political groups, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.
2. That the number of Substitutes for the Standards Committee be increased to one per political group represented on the Committee, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.
3. That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in amended Appendix A (Scenario 2) to the report of the Head of Policy and Communications with the following adjustments:
Audit Committee |
1 seat from Independent to Labour |
General Purposes Group |
1 seat from Conservative to Vacancy 1 seat from Independent to Councillor Ash |
Joint Transportation Board |
1 seat from Conservative to Councillor Ash |
Licensing Act 2003 Committee |
1 seat from UKIP to Labour |
Standards Committee |
1 seat from UKIP to Vacancy |
RESOLVED:
1. That the Planning Referrals Committee comprise three Members, one from each of the largest political groups, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.
2. That the number of Substitutes for the Standards Committee be increased to one per political group represented on the Committee, and that the Constitution be amended accordingly.
3. That the allocation of seats on Committees be as set out in amended Appendix A (Scenario 2) to the report of the Head of Policy and Communications with the following adjustments:
Audit Committee |
1 seat from Independent to Labour |
General Purposes Group |
1 seat from Conservative to Vacancy 1 seat from Independent to Councillor Ash |
Joint Transportation Board |
1 seat from Conservative to Councillor Ash |
Licensing Act 2003 Committee |
1 seat from UKIP to Labour |
Standards Committee |
1 seat from UKIP to Vacancy |
(A copy of the amended allocation of seats on Committees is attached as Appendix A to these Minutes).
18. Appointment of Committees
In accordance with Section 16 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Council considered the appointments to its Committees and Substitutes.
It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Mrs Ring, that the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to the appointments to Committees and Substitutes be accepted.
RESOLVED: That the wishes of the Group Leaders with regard to the appointments to Committees and Substitutes be accepted.
19. Appointment of the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board
It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor Paine, that Councillor J. A. Wilson be appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board for the Municipal Year 2014/15.
RESOLVED: That Councillor J. A. Wilson be appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board for the Municipal Year 2014/15.
20. Scheme of Delegation for Non-Executive Functions
It was moved by Councillor Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor de Wiggondene, that the Scheme of Delegation for Non-Executive Functions be agreed.
RESOLVED: That the Scheme of Delegation for Non-Executive Functions be agreed.
21. Duration of Meeting
9.30 a.m. to 10.50 a.m.